Laboratory equipment



Patented Nov. 23, 1943 LABORATORY EQUIPMENT Thomas L. King, New York, N. Y., and Richard H.Butler, Westfield, N. .L, assignors to Merck & 00., Inc., Rahway, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 17, 1941, Serial No. 411,124

4 Claims. (01. 35-60),

'I'his invention-relates to laboratory tables for chemist and has for its object to provide a new and improved structure of this type which cocupies less floor space than ordinary work tables the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in con-. nection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

of similar capacity and is superior thereto from Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chemical lab the standpoint of convenience and utility. oratory table embodying the invention; and

The invention resides in constructing a labora- Fig.- 2 is a plan view thereof, with the central tory table in the form of a cross, preferably havfume hood shown in section. ing four branches, the axes of which form right The chemists laboratory table shown in the angles. This construction enables a number of drawing-is in the general shape of a Greek cross, chemists-t0 work in semi-private bays with all having four branches l, 2, 3 and 4 which form necessary facilities within or adjacent to their right angles and thus provide four semi-private individual stations, thu eliminating the tradibays or stations A, B, C and D for individual tio-nal inconveniences, time losses and extra steps chemists. The branches i, 2, 3 and 4- of the which are characteristic of conventional straightl5 cross constitute flat-topped work tables which are line work tables. i mounted on suitable stands at a convenient ele- At the intersection of our cruciform structure vation from the floor. 1 we provide a single fume hood, with individual On the center of the laboratory table, at the access points for: each chemist, resulting in conintersection of the branch tables I, 2, 3 and 4, siderable economy of space. Each branch of the there is mounted a single fume hood 5 having an cross constitutes a work table, and, when a exhaust pipe 6 and provided with individual fume chemist is assigned to each of the,four angular compartments and access openings 1 which face bays formed by the cross, it.will be evident that the 'angular junction points of the respectiveeach chemist may work on the two branch tables branch tables. The openings I may be provided which extend at right angles to each other at his with suitable windows or doors if desired. individual station. In the embodiment illustrated, the branch Each branch of the cruciform table may be tables I and 3, which constitute one straight bar provided with shelves for reagents, test samples, of the cross, are each provided adjacent their etc., and with allthe facilities necessary to an outer ends with a pair of sinks 8 and 9 equipped up-to-date laboratory. For example, one straight 0 with suitable hot and cold water taps. On such bar of the cross may have a sinkior sinks at each sink is thus accessible to each of the chemists. end, each such sink or bank of sinks being 210- stationed at the four working bays A, B, C and D. cessible to theworkers on opposite sides of said The branch tables 2 and 4, which constitute bar; while the intersecting bar of the cross may the other straight bar of the cross, are secured be provided with'suitable compartments for clean at their outer ends to cabinet l2 and I3, respecglassware, etc.,'and with equipment for weightively, which extend above the working surface ins pl The sp l sh p of he laboratory of the table. The cabinets l2 and I3, which may table, furthermore, makes it possible to provide be used for storing cleanglassware or for any an individual Writing desk for each e ist in other suitable purpose, are each partitioned into each ar area of the Cross, with result g two compartments and are provided with doors economy of space. on opposite sides providing access to the respec- Another advantage of our laboratory table is tive compartments from each of the workin stathat it enables each working bay to be supplied tions A, B; C and D. Smaller cabinets I 4 and, IS, with gas, steam, compressed air, electric current, upporting suitable balances l6 and I! for weighetc., from aminimum number of outlets and with ing samples, are placed at the ends of but not the utmost convenience. Thus, while in some securedto the respective cabinets l2 and I3. cases we prefer to provide all of the branch tables Cabinet l4 and balance I6 are readily accessible with similar service outlets, it is possible in other to stations B and C, while cabinet l5 and balance cases to equip alternate branches of the cruciform re easily accessible o Stations A d D- structure with different banks of outlets so that Shelves l8 and 9 for dry reagents a e Secured the laboratory workers in all four bays will be' to the respective glassware cabinets I2 and I: provided with increased facilities without unabove the balances l6 and I1. necessary duplication of fixtures, as hereinafter Longitudinal banks of shelves 20 and 2| are described. I mounted centrally above branch tables! and 3,

These and other features and advantages of their ends being supported by uprights 22 and 23 which are mounted on the branch tables as shown in Fig. 1. Similar longitudinal banks of shelves 24 and 25 are mounted centrally above the branch tables 2 and 4, the ends of said shelves being table.

In the embodiment illustrated, the branch tables I and 3 are each provided with a bank of outlets 29 for gas, etc., here shown to be three in number, which are arranged in longitudinal alignment beneath the respective shelves 2!] and 2!, centrally of said branch tables I and 3 so as to be equally accessible from either side thereof, and the branch tables 2 and 4 are each provided with a like number of outlets 30 arranged beneath the respective shelves 24 and 25.

If desired, the banks of outlets 29 and 30 may be alike in character, for example one outlet of each bank may be connected to a source of compressed air, while another may be for gas and the third for steam, so that each branch table is provided with the same facilities. On the other hand, theoutlets 30 of branch tables 2 and 4 may be of a difierent character from the outlets 29 of tables I and 3, for example the outlets 30 may be for supplying electric current, vacuum, etc. With this latter arrangement it will be evident that the laboratory workers stationed at all of the working bays A, B, 'C and D will each be within easy reach of both banks of outlets 29 and 30, and all of said outlets may be provided with double taps so that they may be used simultaneously by the workers on both sides of the' respective branch tables.

The lower portions or stands supporting the branch tables I, 2, 3 and 4 may be provided with I be stationed in each angular area of the cross,

with resulting economy of space.

Waste chutes 33 may be provided at the ends of branch tables I and 3 beneath the sink sections, and the backs of the various cupboards are preferably provided with removable panels permitting access to the plumbing. The various fume compartments of hood may be provided with steam bath openings 34 designed to fit standard equipment, and with small drains 35=for dis posing of substances giving oil noxious vapors. A push button, not shown, is provided beneath the edge of each branch table for summoning laboratory helpers.

The foregoing convenient arrangement of all the apparatus and equipment in the cruciform structure, .which insures equal accessibility to the chemists in each working bay, eliminates the traditional inconveniences, time losses and extra steps which are characteristic of straightdine work tables.

Although one particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those, skilled in the art that various changes and adaptations may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A laboratoiy table for chemists comprising a plurality of connected branch tables arranged in the form of a cross providing a plurality of working bays in the angular areas between the respective branch tables, and a fume hood mounted in the center of said table at the intersection of the branches of the cross, said hood having individual access openings facing the respective working bays formed by said branch tables.

2. A laboratory table for chemists comprising four branch tables arranged in the form of'a cross providing four working bays in the angular areas between the respective branch tables, a fume hood mounted in the center of said table at the intersection of the ,cross, and individual fume compartments in said hood having separate access openings facing the respective working bays formed by said branch tables.

3. A laboratory table for chemists comprising four branch tables arranged in the form of aright-angled cross providing four working bays in. the angular areas between the respective branch tables, a fume hood mounted in the center of said table at the intersection of the cross, and individual fume compartments in said hood having separate accessopenings facing the respective working bays formed by said branch tables.

4. A laboratory table for chemists comprising four branch tables arranged in theform of a right-angled cross providing four working bays in the angular areas between the respective branch tables, a fume hood mounted in the center of said table at the intersection of the cross, individual fume compartments in said hood having separate access openings facing the angular junction pointsof the respective branch tables, and banks of outlets mounted centrally on each of said four branch tables in position to be accessible from both sides thereof, the outlets on each branch table being similar to the outlets on the corresponding aligned branchtableand being of a difierent character from the outlets on the inter- 

